Calibrachoa plant named ‘USCAL58205’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘USCAL58205’, characterized by its compact, mounding and outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous and freely branching growth habit; dense and bushy appearance; early and freely flowering habit; pink-colored flowers with greyed purple-colored centers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘USCAL58205’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘USCAL58205’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and Bonsall,Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create newCalibrachoa plants with uniform plant habit, freely branching growthhabit, attractive flowers and good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination made bythe Inventor on May 8, 2006 in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan of a proprietaryseedling selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number CJ06,not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary seedlingselection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number C459-04, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plant wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledenvironment in Bonsall, Calif. on Jul. 17, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by terminal cuttingsin a controlled environment in Bonsall, Calif. since Jul. 20, 2007 hasshown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa plant are stableand reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘USCAL58205’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘USCAL58205’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa:

-   -   1. Compact, mounding and outwardly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous and freely branching growth habit; dense and bushy        appearance.    -   3. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   4. Pink-colored flowers with greyed purple-colored centers.    -   5. Good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa plant can be compared to plants of the parentselections. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plantsof the parent selections in flower color as plants of the female parentselection have dark pink-colored flowers with large darker pink-coloredcenters and plants of the male parent selection have pink-coloredflowers with red-colored centers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of theCalibrachoa ‘USCALI17’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,701. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the newCalibrachoa differed primarily from plants of ‘USCALI17’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more compact than plants        of ‘USCALI17’.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Calibrachoa were darker green in        color than leaves of plants of ‘USCALI17’.    -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘USCALI17’ differed in        flower color as plants of ‘USCALI17’ had red purple-colored        flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of thePetunia ‘Sunbelochipi’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,355. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the newCalibrachoa differed from plants of ‘Sunbelochipi’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more compact than and not        as vigorous as plants of ‘Sunbelochipi’.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘Sunbelochipi’ differed in        flower color as plants of ‘Sunbelochipi’ had red purple-colored        flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘USCAL58205’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a close-up of a typicalflowering plant of ‘USCAL58205’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the spring in 15-cm containersin a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Bonsall, Calif. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 32° C.,night temperatures ranged from 14° C. to 18° C. and light levels rangedfrom 7,000 to 10,000 foot-candles. Plants were pinched one time and wereeight weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCAL58205’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of            Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number CJ06, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of            Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number C459-04, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four days at            temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six days at            temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About 22 days at            temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About 25 days at            temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, mounding and outwardly            spreading plant habit; freely branching habit with about            eight to nine lateral branches; pinching enhances branching;            vigorous, dense and bushy growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 15 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 52 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 25 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.        -   Internode length, vegetative.—About 6 mm.        -   Internode length, reproductive.—About 1.3 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—Close to 146D.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate, simple; after            flowering, opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 4 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.6 cm.        -   Shape.—Obelliptical to oblanceolate.        -   Apex.—Broadly acute to rounded.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 138A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137C; venation,            close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 147B; venation, close to 147C.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper            and lower surfaces: Close to 146C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single slightly asymmetrical            salverform flowers arising from leaf axils; freely flowering            habit with usually about 16 to 18 open flowers and flower            buds per lateral branch; flowers face upright and outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of            the new Calibrachoa begin flowering about six weeks after            planting; plants flower continuously from spring though the            autumn in California.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to            seven days on the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Flower diameter.—About 3.3 cm by 3.5 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 3 cm.        -   Flower throat diameter.—About 7 mm by 8 mm.        -   Flower tube diameter, base.—About 2 mm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 1.8 cm.        -   Flower bud.—Shape: Elongated oblong. Length: About 2.5 cm.            Diameter: About 9 mm. Color: Close to 185C.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and            opening into a flared trumpet. Petal lobe length (from            throat): About 1.4 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.5 cm. Petal            shape: Roughly cordate. Petal apex: Slightly emarginate.            Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper surface: Smooth,            glabrous; velvety. Petal texture, lower surface: Pubescent.            Throat texture: Glabrous, granular. Tube texture: Pubescent.            Color: Petal lobe, when opening, upper surface: Close to            60D. Petal lobe, when opening, lower surface: Close to 186C            to 186D. Petal lobe, fully opened, upper surface: Close to            70C; towards the throat, close to N186C to N186D; color does            not fade with development; venation, close to 59C. Petal            lobe, fully opened, lower surface: Close to 186C to 186D;            color does not fade with development; venation, close to            60B. Throat: Close to 7A; venation, close to 146B. Tube:            Close to 146D; venation, close to 146B.        -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five            sepals in a single whorl and fused at the base. Sepal            length: About 8 mm. Sepal width: About 3 mm. Sepal shape:            Ligulate. Sepal apex: Acute to slightly rounded. Sepal            margin: Entire. Sepal texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 137A to            137B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3.2 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Angle: About 45° from stem axis. Strength: Strong. Texture:            Pubescent. Color: Close to 146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: About five per            flower. Filament length: About 1 cm. Filament color: Close            to 145C. Anther shape: Oval. Anther length: About 1 mm.            Anther color: Close to 7A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen            color: Close to 7A. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower.            Pistil length: About 1.2 cm. Style length: About 8 mm. Style            color: Close to 147C. Stigma shape: Oval. Stigma color:            Close to 137C. Ovary color: Close to 146D. Seed/fruit: Seed            and fruit development have not been observed on plants of            the new Calibrachoa.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed    to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and    temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 40° C.-   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Calibrachoa.

1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘USCAL58205’ asillustrated and described.